The assassination of Carlos Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, has sparked a wave of outrage against the violence plaguing the state, governed by Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla of the Morena party.
Following the attack on the mayor, Ramírez Bedolla’s administration has faced criticism and accusations regarding the lack of security in Michoacán.
One of the figures who criticized the administration is Guadalupe Mora, brother of Hipólito Mora—founder of the self-defense groups in Michoacán—who spoke out about the murder, which occurred on the same day as the assassination of his nephew, Alejandro Torres Mora, in the town of La Ruana.
In an interview with Azucena Uresti for Grupo Fórmula, Mora stated: “That man was getting in the way of the government. He was going to be the next governor here in Michoacán; he had a lot of supporters. I’ve never seen a mayor fight organized crime… That’s why they killed him.”
For Lupe Mora, the motive for Manzo’s murder was related to his outspoken fight against the cartels.
“Most mayors are involved with organized crime, but this man wasn’t; he was against it,” she added.
Who is behind the murder of the mayor of Uruapan?
Federal authorities have not yet determined the motive or whether a criminal group is behind the murder, nor have they identified the perpetrator of the attack.
However, the governor stated that organized crime is likely behind the attack on the mayor of Uruapan.
“We are working to ensure justice for Carlos Manzo, for his family, and for the people of Uruapan. While the perpetrator was killed, there are masterminds and organized crime groups behind this murder,” he commented at a press conference.
For his part, the head of the Security Cabinet, Omar García Harfuch, ruled out any connection between Carlos Manzo’s bodyguards and organized crime. This comes amid questions surrounding the assassination that occurred despite the presence of security personnel in the public square where the Candle Festival was taking place.
“At the moment, there is no indication that the group of Municipal Police officers protecting the mayor has any connection to organized crime. In fact, it was one of the bodyguards himself who killed the assailant,” he stated at Monday’s morning press conference.
However, journalist Luis Chaparro shared in a radio interview with Azucena that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) allegedly offered 50,000 pesos to two hitmen to assassinate the mayor.
“That 50,000 pesos was to be split between the two of them; that’s what they paid these hitmen from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel to attack Carlos Manzo,” he asserted.
Michoacán is the scene of a dispute between different cartels, resulting in a crisis of violence that has mainly affected the countryside – through quotas and extortion of lemon and avocado growers – and figures openly against crime, such as Carlos Manzo himself.
Source: politico
